André

I felt my cheeks rising as I stared at the little girl wearing pigtails on my phone screen. I couldn't imagine Charles being this girly now. I just couldn't.

"Dré, sino yan?"

My phone fell flat on my face when I heard Logan's voice behind me. "Jesus! Can you stop scaring me?"

Logan chuckled. "Gago! Tinakot ba kita? Ikaw kaya tong parang tangang nakatitig sa cellphone mo," he stated, taking a seat on the couch across me.

"Why are you here, anyway? Wala ka bang practice?" I asked, sitting up on the couch.

"Nakalimutan mo ba ang auction ball mamaya?" he pointed out.

My jaw fell open. "What the? Is it tonight?"

"Oo, bro. Ayaw ko nga sanang pumunta, pero sigurado akong maglilitanya si Koleen sa akin pag di ako pumunta."

I chuckled. Well, that would be true. Koleen would kill us if we wouldn't show up tonight. "May date ka na?"

Logan glared at me. "Wala. Kailangan ba?"

"Of course. It's a ball, for fuck's sake," I stated.

"Tsk. Bahala na. Oh, basta, sabay na tayo pumunta. 7 pm yon sa may Valentine Hotel." Logan stood up, leaving me in the living room.

"Noted, bro!" I exclaimed, taking my phone and searching for a girl's contact number. Only one person came to my mind, so I immediately texted her. "Are you free tonight?"

No, wait. Baka iba na naman isipin niya.

I deleted those words and typed these instead. "Are you doing anything tonight? Kung wala, samahan mo ako sa auction ball. It's organized by Gen L Soc."

I took few deep breaths, waiting for her response. But, an hour and a half later, wala pa rin siyang reply.

"Dré, ano na? Male-late na tayo. Hindi ka pa nakabihis?" Logan nagged me as I saw him coming out of his room wearing a maroon tuxedo and long tie, a white formal shirt under it with matching trousers.

Dragging my feet out of the couch, nagtungo na ako sa aking kwarto. I pulled out the charcoal-colored suit from my wardrobe and an emerald tie to match my eyes. I rarely wore suits, but grandpapa always made sure that I had a collection of it.

After taking a bath and putting on clothes, I quickly grabbed my phone to check any messages, but still, there was nothing.

I exhaled a breath as I walked out of my room. Hanggang sa makarating kami sa venue ng auction ball, I was still expecting a reply from Charles.

"Oh, nasaan na ang date mo?" Logan teased the moment we stepped out of his Jeep.

"André?" A high-pitched voice caught my ear, making me turn to the side. Her five foot self was in a dark green tube dress, stopping just above her knees.

I squinted at her, trying to remember her name. "Uh..."

"It's Olivia, silly. You forgot about me na?" she introduced herself.

I chuckled. "Of course not. How can I forget such lovely face?"

She smiled, obviously smitten by me. "Anyway, what are you doing here?"

"Oh, we're attending an auction ball. You?"

"Me too. I was invited. I mean, my family is one of the sponsors," she stated, flashing a smile. "Shall we go in together?"

"Yeah, why not?" I just agreed for the sake of it.

"Ehem." I heard Logan faking a cough next to me. "Una na ako, bro."

I just nodded at him as we walked inside the hotel. The venue hall was already filled with familiar faces. I quickly saw Koleen with her friends on a reserved table at the front, so we made our way towards them.

"Hey, guys!" I greeted them first. "This is Olivia, by the way."

"Hi everyone." Olivia waved her hands at them.

"Oh... em... gee..." Alexis suddenly gasped, her eyes focused at the entrance of the room.

We all stared at the guy in white suit and tie, who was walking with an unfamiliar girl next to him.

I glanced at the girl sitting next to Koleen. We all knew Kell was in love with Fina. But, why the hell is he with another girl tonight?

"What the fuck is going on?" I cursed out loud.

I thought the worst thing he could do was cheat... but, no. The worst was parading a different woman infront of everyone... infront of the woman you love.

Kahit pa kaibigan ko si Kell, I wouldn't hesitate punching him in the face right now.

When I saw Fina standing up from our table, I was going to follow her out. But then, my eyes suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure standing next to the catering service.

"Charles?" I mumbled.

"What?" Olivia suddenly turned to me.

I immediately shook my head at her. "Nothing."

But, I couldn't keep still after that. Kaya pala hindi siya nagre-reply sa akin. But then, she could've just told me that she's working tonight.

"André, shall we dance?" Olivia asked me, pero hindi ko maalis ang tingin ko sa babaeng nakasuot ng server uniform sa may gilid ng hall.

Taking few deep breaths, I stood up from my seat, ignoring Olivia beside me.

Naglakad ako papunta sa pwesto ni Charles. She was wearing a white long-sleeved shirt and black trousers, completely covering her body again. And yet, I couldn't look away. My eyes were all over her.

"Charles, I was waiting for your reply all day," I casually mentioned, taking a cupcake from the table.

She faked a smile at me. "Ay, sorry. Hindi ba kita na-reply-an?"

I squinted at her. "Don't play pretend. Bakit hindi mo sinabing nandito ka?"

"Bakit naman kita iuupdate? Boyfriend ba kita?"

"Yes!" I exclaimed almost immediately. "I mean, di ba pumayag kang maging boyfriend ko noon?"

She shook her head at me. "Noon 'yon! Noong nagpapanggap ako sa frat! Alis na! Nakakaistorbo ka sa trabaho ko eh."

I pinched the inside of my cheeks as I took a bite of the cupcake. "Don't go home without me."

Her eyes widened. "Ha?"

"I said ihahatid kita pagkatapos nito kaya don't go home without me," I told her, marching my way back to our table.

After drinking two glasses of liquor, I already felt my head spinning while dancing with Olivia in the middle of the room.

"André, I think you're too drunk," Olivia mentioned as she helped me go back to our seats.

"No, I'm a-okay. Don't worry about me, Livie," I swayed on the chair I just sat on.

"Guys, can I leave him with you na? I'm going home," Olivia told my friends.

"Don't worry. Kami na bahala sa kanya," Logan answered.

"Nice seeing you again, André," Olivia kissed my cheek before she left.

"Logan, iuwi mo na si André," I heard Koleen's voice. "Kami na bahala kay Kell."

"Okay, copy," Logan answered as he dragged me up from my seat.

"Wait," I mumbled, stopping the guy next to me. "Where's Charles?"

"Oo nga pala. Nandito rin si Charlie. Logan, isabay mo na rin siya, okay?" Koleen ordered.

Logan sighed. "Nasan na ba siya?"

"Tinext ko naman na siya para sumabay sa inyo," Koleen stated. "Sige na. Mauna na kami. Nagwawala na raw si Kell sa labas sabi ni Jalen."

Umalis na rin si Koleen and I was left with Logan holding me by the shoulder. I wanted to look for Charles, but my eyes were too hazy to function.

Few moments later, I saw someone running towards our direction. Kahit na nahihilo ako, I was hundred percent sure it was Charles coming our way.

"Sorry, natagalan kami sa pag-aayos," she apologized when she reached us.

I smiled. "It's okay, Charles. I can wait forever for you."

Logan chuckled next to me as he lifted me on his back. "Okay lang. Tara na."

"Hindi ba siya mabigat?" Charles asked the guy giving me a piggyback ride.

"Sanay na ako dito," Logan answered.

"Marami ba siyang nainom?" Charles asked again.

"Hindi naman. Pero, mabilis kasi siyang malasing," Logan remarked.

"I am not," I corrected the guy.

When we finally reached Logan's car, he dropped me at the backseat next to Charles. I just wanted to sleep now.

Leaning my head on the side, I didn't hesitate to rest my head on Charles' shoulder.

"T-Teka," she stutteringly protested, but I kept my head still.

"I'm so sleepy," I mumbled, making myself comfortable in her shoulder.

"Andres, dun ka nga sa kabila," Charles tried pushing my head away.

"Ganyan talaga yan kapag lasing. Nagiging extra clingy," Logan even explained as he started his car.

Charles was about to shove my head again, but I managed to hold her hand, stopping her. "A-Andres, ano ba? Uupakan na kita!"

I lifted my head a bit, meeting her almond eyes. I've seen all sorts of eyes before, but hers were my favorite.

She wasn't the prettiest, but she was the only one I wanted to look at all day and night. I just wanted to know every little detail about her... what she liked and disliked... if she's happy or sad...

I just want all of her.

"I want you, Charles," I mumbled under my breath and that's when I realized my words came out wrong.

She probably thought I was being horny. But, the truth was, I was having a ridiculously, out of this world, gut-wrenching feeling in my chest that I couldn't express with normal alphabets.

Those things I hear about butterflies clumping in your stomach was not a fucking lie...

Because I felt them all every single time and it's all because of her.

A/N: Ay may nahulog? 🤭

Double update for today bilang pasasalamat sa 3.6k reads 🫶🏻

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